Frequently Asked Questions Credit Card Convenience Fee

What are my payment options at IU Southeast?

IU Southeast is committed to providing students and their families a range of options for paying their educational expenses including: e-check, check, cash, GlobalPAY and credit card. IU Southeast also offers 4 installment payments for the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms.

How do I make an e-check payment?

The e-check payment option is available by going to One.iu.edu and selecting “View/Pay Bursar Bill”. This will take you to CASHNet where there will be further instructions.

What credit cards does IU Southeast accept?

IU Southeast accepts VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Credit card payments can only be made online via CASHNet through One.iu.edu and cannot be made over the phone, by mail or in-person. Credit card payments will be assessed a convenience fee.

How do I set up a payment plan?

IU partners with Nelnet Campus Commerce to let you pay your balance over time with a payment plan. This option allows you to pay off your account in up to four payments over the term, depending on when you enroll in the payment plan.

If you cannot pay all at once, you can use payment plans to budget your payments into smaller installments throughout the term. You can set up a payment plan online. Click on “Create or View Payment Plan” after you log in.

Here is what you need to know:

A student or 3rd Party User can enroll in a payment plan each term

Account balance must be greater than $500 to be eligible

When you enroll, you’ll pay the down payment fee plus a $55 enrollment fee

Accepted payment methods are bank accounts or credit or debit cards

Scheduled payments will be automatically deducted using your payment method on the 5th of each month of the payment plan

You will keep your student account in good standing while in an active payment plan—this means no holds and no late fees

Accounts will be subject to late fees if not enrolled in a payment plan with a balance prior to the regular due date of the 10th of each month

What is the convenience fee?

2.75%* is the convenience fee (aka service charge) established by our third party credit card processor to cover the credit card transaction fees for payments on a bursar account. IU Southeast will not receive any part of the service charge.

Why is a fee being charged for the use of my credit card?

IU Southeast is committed to providing students and their families a range of options for paying their educational expenses. The credit card payment method has become prohibitively expensive because of the fees associated with credit card transaction processing. This expense was paid by University tuition revenues and therefore reduces the tuition dollars available for academic programs and services for all students. In an effort to contain costs, IU Southeast made the decision to implement the convenience fee for using credit cards for paying a student bursar account to students/payers.

Is there any way I can avoid paying a convenience fee?

You can avoid paying the convenience fee by paying online with an e-check (an electronic debit to your checking or savings account). You may also pay by personal check sent via U.S. Mail. The check should be made payable to IU Southeast and addressed to: IU Southeast Lockbox, Payment Processing Center, PO Box 7246, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7246. If you’re on campus and want to pay by check, you can drop your payment in the drop box or visit the Office of the Bursar in University Center South, Room 103, Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Always remember to include your campus ID number on the check.

If I make a credit card payment in error, will my convenience fee be refunded?

No. The convenience fee is not refundable, even if the payment to which it relates is cancelled, refunded, credited or charged back.

If I use my debit card to pay my bursar account charges, will I be charged the convenience fee?

Yes. If you use your debit card to pay your bursar account charges, you will be charged the 2.75%* convenience fee. For checking or savings account debits, please use the e-check option to avoid paying the convenience fee.

*Note: Convenience fee percentage is subject to change.

Will the convenience fee that I am charged be included on my student bursar account statement?

No. The convenience fee is a fee assessed by a third party company in addition to the payment on the student bursar account. The convenience fee will not appear on your student bursar account statement.

How will this appear on my credit card statement?

One transaction will appear on your credit card statement if you pay by MasterCard, Discover or American Express. The transaction will include the payment made to IU Southeast and the convenience fee charged by the vendor. If paying by VISA, there will be one transaction for the bursar account payment and one transaction for the convenience fee. Note: For tax purposes keep the transaction receipts, do not rely on the credit card statements since it will include the convenience fee.

Will other areas of IU Southeast also be charging the convenience fee?

At this time, this change only applies to payments made on a student bursar account. Note: Application fees are not on the student account.

What if I’m getting a refund for tuition and fees because of a credit balance on my student bursar account and I paid my account with a credit card?

The University is required to refund any overpayments made by credit card back to the credit card account. The convenience fee will not be refunded.

What if I make a credit card payment for more than I owe on my student bursar account?

The third-party payment system will not allow payments for more than the account balance.

Will other IU campuses also be charging a convenience fee for credit card payments?

All IU campuses will be charging a convenience fee effective July 1, 2016

Are other Universities charging a convenience fee for credit card transactions?

Yes. Credit card convenience fees are not unique to IU Southeast. All IU campuses are charging a convenience fee. Many other schools such as University of Louisville, Purdue University, and Ball State University currently charge convenience fees for credit card transactions.

How do I make a credit card payment?

The credit card payment option is available by going to One.iu.edu and selecting “View/Pay Bursar Bill”. This will take you to CASHNet where there will be further instructions.

How will I know if my payment is approved?

When credit card payments are approved an online confirmation receipt is issued by the third-party payment processor to the email address you specify.

What happens if I make a mistake when I enter my credit card information online?

If a credit card number or other personal information is entered that is inconsistent with your credit card account, the payment will be rejected immediately. If the payment is rejected, you will be notified that your payment has been rejected. You will be able to view all past rejected payments in your transaction history.

Can I make a credit card payment over the phone?

Credit card payments cannot be made over the phone or via mail. This is a security measure to ensure confidentiality of your payment information.

Can I pay in person using a credit card?

Credit card payments can be made at any internet-accessible device. If you're on campus and want to make a credit card payment, you can access the internet at one of the various computer stations on campus. If you need assistance, there are also computers available outside the Office of the Bursar University Center South, Room 103, Mon. - Thurs. 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.. The staff at the Bursar’s Office will be able to assist you.

Often I receive checks from my credit card company. Can I use the routing number and account number on these checks to make an electronic check (e-check) payment?

No. The credit card companies will not honor this type of check used electronically. The payment will be returned as "account not found." You may use this type of check to pay via U.S. Mail and made payable to IU Southeast and addressed to: IU Southeast Lockbox, Payment Processing Center, PO Box 7246, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7246. If you’re on campus, you can drop your payment in the drop box or visit the Office of the Bursar in University Center South, Room 103, Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Always remember to include your campus ID number on the check. The convenience fee will not be assessed on this type of payment.

Is this convenience fee contradictory to the MasterCard policy stated on their website?

No, although there is a section, 5.9.2, on the MasterCard website that could be interpreted as contradictory. Clarification is found in the “program summary” on MasterCard Worldwide Convenience Fee Program flyer. It reads: “MasterCard has put in place a convenience fee program for participating pre-certified government and education entities, or their third-party agents. Participants in the program will be permitted to assess a convenience fee for MasterCard transactions, whether conducted in person, Internet, phone, mail or kiosk, versus other forms of payment, such as cash, check, Automated Clearing House (ACH), and Personal Identification Number (PIN) based debit, provided that the conditions set out below are satisfied.”

Is charging a convenience fee legal?

Yes, it is legal for our third-party credit card processor, CASHNet, to charge a convenience fee. CASHNet has provided a document, summarizing the compliance considerations for each of the card networks.